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What is cyberbullying
What is cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is the use of electronic communication to intentionally and repeatedly intimidate or cause harm to another person. It can include sharing, sending or posting negative, harmful, false or mean content about someone else causing embarrassment and humiliation. It can also include sharing of personal or private information of someone (Aliyev et al, 2019).
Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, text or online in social media where people can participate in or share content. Below are the most common places where cyberbullying occurs:
Social media platforms such s Facebook, Instagram, twitter and Snapchat.
Through text messaging and messaging apps on mobile or electronic devices.
Over direct and online chatting on the internet.
Via emails.
Causes of cyberbullying
Causes of cyberbullying
The main cause of cyberbullying is yet to be known but we should know by now that the existence and dominance of the internet on our daily lives in this present times (21st century) has played a major role in the spread of cyberbullying. The use of social media has given people authority to say things they would not normally say in person. As I have stated in the beginning that the main cause of cyberbullying is yet to known, this does not mean that there are no causes of cyberbullying at all. According to researches some causes include:
Self-loathing
Self-loathing
Most of the time victims of cyberbullying turn out to be bullies too as a result of trying to take out the anger they have, and this cycle might end up hurting up innocent kids too
Attention
Attention
Attention is awareness and notice of something or someone. It has both the positive and the negative side. Teens are one of the population group of people that value attention more than anything else as they believe it gives one higher recognition and personal status, and because of this reason when they do not get it through academics or maybe through sports or other school participation activities, they tend to engage in bad behavioral activities such as cyberbullying to get the attention.
Relationships break ups
Relationships break ups
In terms of dating, people often express feelings of bitterness, indignation and hurt after break ups, and they may take this feelings out on their former partners through cyberbullying by sharing their former partners' personal and private information on social media platforms.
other causes of cyberbullying
other causes of cyberbullying
Lack of parental supervision over their children's use of the internet and computer activities.
Lack of knowledge about appropriate online activities.
Lack of experience with the use of social media and the internet.
Low self-esteem of bullies. Most bullies bully people to make themselves feel better and try soothing their imperfections.
Impact of cyberbullying
Impact of cyberbullying
Cyberbullying has only the negative impact on both the victim and the bully. Some of the negative impact of cyberbullying on the victims include:
Mental Effects
Cyberbullying can make victims feel lack of interest and motivation on anything happening in their social or environmental spaces. This lack of interest allows feelings of depression and anxiety which might develop suicidal thoughts if not recognized and managed on time.
Emotional Effects
Cyberbullying can cause stress and anxiety on the victim and make it difficult for them to focus and concentrate on activities or tasks they do. for example students might find it difficult to learn, understand and retain information on their school work. It also supports feelings of isolation and powerlessness by influencing less participation in lesson or engaging in activities.
Behavioral Effects
Due to mental effects such as depression, anxiety and stress that are caused by cyberbullying. Victims often lose themselves to drugs and alcohol as a way of trying to numb and escape their hurts. They may also engage in risky sexual and physical behaviors as they have lost self-love.
Physical Effects
Cyberbullying has many effects on the victim's health. some of its effects when focusing on the physical side is the disturbance it has on the victims' sleeping routine. Victims of cyberbullying tend to sleep more or less than normal sleeping hours, this is caused by spending more time thinking. It also causes eating disorders because victims lose appetite for food as a result of depression and anxiety.
Preventative measures parents can take to protect their children against cyberbullying or minimizing the risk of it
Preventative measures parents can take to protect their children against cyberbullying or minimizing the risk of it
Parents should regularly follow their children' social media accounts.
Make it their vocation to check the websites their children visits.
Search online for information available about their children.
Parents should hold the responsibility of knowing the passwords to their children's social media accounts, emails and cellphones.
Discuss with their children the types of content and information to share, post and view on the internet.
Preventative measures teens and people can take to protect themselves against cyberbullying or minimizing the risk of it
Preventative measures teens and people can take to protect themselves against cyberbullying or minimizing the risk of it
Turn on privacy settings to control who sees your information.
Do not be afraid to block abusers.
Think about what you want to post and what moral objective does it have before deciding to post it.
Check and evaluate follower/friend before accepting their request and look at their profile photo to see if you know them or you have common friends with them.
Avoids social media platforms that has poor security which allow easy access to your to your personal information and encourage.
Additional resources
Additional resources
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